Étape 7: Dijon to Cluny (96km)

We both felt a lot better after a lovely evening and stay at Graham and Karen’s. It was great to sit out under the stars wining and dining by candlelight, with the gentle chirping of crickets in the background and it did not feel at all cold! 

In the morning we were treated to a fantastic breakfast, I got my first homemade porridge of the journey (thanks Karen!), and there was quite a spread including croissants (without butter accompaniment – obviously), pain au chocolat, fresh toast, Karen’s homemade apricot jam, and scrambled eggs to order for Mark.

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Feeling refreshed, we headed off on the quiet and mostly flat stage that has taken us to the beautiful small town of Cluny. Situated on the river Grosne, there has been a settlement here for over 1100 years, though its prestigious abbey (built in 910 and belived to be one of the grandest in Europe at the time) was mostly destroyed during the French revolution in the 1790s.

Most of the second half of the route was on a very good Voie Verte (green way – see above photo) from Chalon-sur-Saône, which was well shaded, just as well after a completely cloudless sky and temperatures up to 26 degrees C!

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On route we also heard an impromptu gig with someone practicing drumming and some guitar work in the middle of nowhere. Surreal but much more impressive than Matt Woods on the pan pipes.

Tonight’s track is by one of my favourite French groups Phoenix and a song they wrote about Paris, titled “1901”.